11.20
Cambodia Casinos
There is a fascinating story to the Cambodia casinos that lie just across the dividing line from nearby Thailand, in which gambling den wagering is not permitted. Eight casinos are anchored in a generally tiny space in the municipality of Poipet in Cambodia. This band of Cambodia casinos is in a prime location, a 3 to 4 hour travel from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 largest betting centers in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a huge business with Thai laborers and guests from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a few Westerners. The amazing capital acquired from the gambling dens ranges from seven and a half million dollars to over 12.5 million dollars, and there are a few restrictions constraints for casino ownership. Ownership is presumed to be largely Thai; although, investment sources are vague. The borders are officially open from 0900 to 17:00, and although visas are apparently necessary to pass, there are methods and means around this, as is accurate of most border crossings.
The original Cambodia gambling dens premiered in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving just one casino in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a stationary bateau gambling den, highlights one hundred and fifty slot machines and 60 tables. The Naga gambling den is open all day and night with forty two tables of mini-baccarat banque, 4 tables of blackjack, 10 of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and 1 each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The original casino in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, opened in 1999 and the Golden Crown quickly followed. A total of one hundred and fifty slot machines and 5 table games at the Golden Crown and 104 slot machine games and 68 gaming tables at the Holiday Palace. The latest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort highlights three hundred slot machines and 70 gaming tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six one armed bandits and ninety six gaming tables, including 87 baccarat chemin de fer (the most beloved game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. In addition, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machines and 66 of the common tables, as well as 1 table of Casino Stud Poker. An additional of the eight gambling dens in Poipet, again a part of a motel, is the Princess Casino with 166 one armed bandits and ninety seven games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in an all-inclusive resort and hotel compound that features a number of conveniences on top of the gambling den, which houses 10,000 sq.ft. of one hundred and thirty one armed bandits and 88 tables.